The Poultry Keeper

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1645 Location: Carmarthenshire

Due to the youngsters starting to crow early this is going to be put into use earlier than expected. We had got someone lined up to come and show us how to work it properly but they are away for a couple of weeks - I think the neighbours will have a nervous breakdown if we wait and all 6 start crowing!!!!! The one we have bought has a "U" shaped at the bottom and a lever at the top, you can adjust this to vary the gap. My questions are, how big/small should the gap be? How far down do you put the neck (is it just behind the head)? and, How hard do you have to do the lever - is it a sharp knock down or a squeeze? Sorry to those who are squeamish but I am not looking forward to doing this and want to get it right and not cause any suffering at all.

CP · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:17 am Post subject:

I think it's really bad that these things don't come with instructions. Mad

The gap should be smaller than you think it should be! Bit difficult to be specific as we have bantams & I guess yours are LF. Look at the size of their necks & then go smaller...a lot smaller because it's the neckbone you will be dislocating, not the whole neck. (if that makes sense?) I think debcat said about the size of a pencil for LF? Confused

Use it just behind the head & you pull it down sharply & hold, whilst pulling the bird backwards slightly to help dislocation. This is the part we always hate as we find to be certain that it's a quick death we end up almost severing the head by pulling back too strongly!
Be prepared for the flapping & twitching.

Having just read in PP magazine that these dispatchers aren't recommended is not very encouraging either! Shocked

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1645 Location: Carmarthenshire

Thanks CP that info is a great help, not looking forward to it but I know it's my responsibility to do it and do it properly - I was stunned that no info came with it, hence the questions. I think once one has been done I won't worry quite so much doing the others.

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2620 Location: South Cumbria

It isn't very pleasant ans as CP said adjust it a lot smaller than you think ! my OH fitted ours too high up at first and it was hard to hold a heavy guinea fowl at my shoulder height Sad

though we managed with 2 of us, now we have it at waist height we wrap our birds quite firmly in an old towel to restrict the flapping as we find it quite distressing Sad

mojo · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject:

putting the LF in a plastic supermarket bag with the corner cut off to let head thro cuts out a lot of flapping

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1185 Location: Cornwall

I'd rather use a broomstick. Much easier.

mojo · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:46 pm Post subject:

job to get a chook in a broomstick............sorry me being silly...........as usual......i use broomstick method too.....and put them in carrierbag .......as i am a fat fool it works well

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2620 Location: South Cumbria

we tried the broomstick but prefer the despatcher !more clinical somehow !

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1185 Location: Cornwall

I like to fly round the village on my broomstick after I've despatched something

Twisted Evil

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2620 Location: South Cumbria

Teasal · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject:

I cannot face killing any ....thats why I have two RIR cockerels at the moment. All the ones I hatch had to go to market, and let someone else do it.

When I was young, my mum used to send me to the fishmongers, who sold chickens, pheasants, and rabbits. I remember asking for a chicken, and he disappeared out the back, and a few minutes later came back plucking a chicken - proper fresh free range that was. It took me ages to cotton on to the fact that he was going out into his field and wringing the chickens neck as I waited!!

jreeve · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 91 Location: North Wales

Broomstick method? - sorry, have never had the need to dispatch so am pretty clueless about this!